A Rainbow Balloon

School Library Journal

Gr 1-4-- Lenssen's full-color photographic artistry and the majestic mystery of hot air balloons are a perfect combination in this book of opposites. Serving a dual purpose, the book gives fundamental information on how these giants of the sky function, while employing such words as ``empty'' and ``full,'' ``noisy'' and ``quiet,'' and ``up'' and ``down'' to introduce the concepts. Opposites attract; this colorful, appealing book will draw readers in and hold their attention. --Joyce Richards, Prairie Grove Elementary School, AR

Chris Sherman

Although Lenssen presents this as a concept book, it may be more valuable for its color photographs and the information it provides about hot-air ballooning. As a concept book, it is less than successful. Some of the photographs can be interpreted in several ways. The photograph accompanying the word "rise", for example, shows the balloon tilted in such a way that the photograph could also illustrate "fall"; for "light" the balloon casts a dark shadow on the page; for "dark" the balloon glows beautifully in a nighttime scene. If additional titles on ballooning are needed, this will fill the bill nicely--children and their parents will enjoy learning about ballooning mechanics. If it's a concept book that's needed, pull out some by Tana Hoban.

Junior Library Guild

Full-color photographs follow a hot-air balloon called Tickled Pink through a typical flight and and introduce basic concepts such as near and far. Sentences on each page provide facts about ballooning and put the words in context:"Standing near, Tickled Pink is taller than a six-story building. But when far away, it is a pink dot in the sky."